Abstract:

This article is intended to stimulate debate and suggest areas of perinatal and neonatal practice which could be usefully reviewed. There are legal and ethical constraints on current practice and arguably this is not always in the best interest of the neonate. Given that current technology has limits we need to be realistic as to the success of our current forms of management. While not wishing to stifle research and progress in any way, we as midwives and neonatal nurses, need to be kind and not inflict suffering on the infants most directly involved and their families.